Subaqueous rock-cutting apparatus



H. 0. BEDGOOD. SUBAQUEOUS ROCK CUTTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, I921.

Patented Oct. 24 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHE 1.

H. O. BEITGOOD. SUBAQUEOUS ROCK CUTTI I APPLICAT FILED FEB 1,432,828.

NG APPARATUS. .28

" Patented 0ct.24,1922.,

ZSHEETS SHEEI 2.

HUBERT OSWALD BEDGOOD, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOB T0 LOBIIITZ & COMPANY, LIMITED, OF RENFBEW, SCOTLAND.

SUBAQUEOUS ROCK-CUTTING APPARATUS.

App1ication filed February 28, 1821.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HUBERT OSWALD Bun GOOD, of Trewellard, Yoker, Glasgow, Scotland, a subject of the King of Great Britain, hath invented certain new and useful Inn provements in Subaqueous Rock-Cutting Apparatus, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to subaqueous rock cutting or breaking apparatus of thenow well known Lobnitz type.

Such apparatus comprises, essentially, a floating structure, a rock cutter or ram, means for raising the latter to a height suf ficient to ensure that, when .released, the cutter acquires the momentum necessary to effect, by impact, a breaking or shattering of the rock and means for effecting an instantaneous release ofthe cutter hoisting rope to allow the cutter to fall freely, or substantially freely, under the action of gravity.

At present it is usual for the cutter to work within a guide arranged in contact with the floating structure and means are provided in connection with the guide for cushioning the violent vibrations or oscillations of the upper end of the cutter which take place, each time it strikes the rock. In spite of the aforesaid cushioning means the vibrations, though lessened, are nevertheless transmitted to the floating structure with the result that, in time, the plating of the well becomes loosened more or less, and, sometimes, extensive leakage takes place.

The object of the present invention is to prevent the oscillations or vibrations of the cutter being transmitted to the floating structure.

Under this invention the cutter is arranged to work in an elongated guide which is suspended directly or indirectly from the floating structure in such manner that it can move or be moved freely in all lateral directions in the water without contacting with the floating structure. The guide is also capable of being raised or lowered, as de sired, to suit the depth at which the cutter is to work. The guide is preferably lined with wood or other suitable lining material. With this new form of guide a cutter of moderate length, say 20 to 30 feet long, can be arranged to operate at practically any depth.

Serial No. 448,475.

Preferably the guide is of tubular formation, of plain, corrugated or other suitable structure, and is freely suspended by means of ropes or chains so as to yield readily to the vibrations of the cutter when it strikes the-rock. It may be of any suitable length and be formed from a single length of tubing or may be built up in sections or parts bolted or otherwise connected together whilst additional extension pieces may be provided which can be fitted to the guide if and when desired. If desired the guide may be made telescopically extensible.

The guide may be suspended in or below the well of the floating structure and may be raised or lowered by a hand or power driven winch or by other suitable means. Preferably the guide would be suspended by two wire ropes passing over pulleys on the sheer leg structure and then to two winding drums or barrels on a hoisting winch. il ith this arrangement a short cutter may be employed to work at all depths within certain predetermined limits; for shallow operations the guide being raised up so as to project into or above the well and for deep operations the guide being lowered below the well or being extended by adding sections thereto.

The length of the guide is such as to ensure the cutter being properly guided and also held in position even when working in deep water. It is also preferably, of such dimensions as to permit not only of the free passage of the cutter therethrough but also of the formation of a water cushion between same and the cutter so that the vibration of the cutter, due to the shock of impact, is clamped by said water cushion, any vibration transmitted to the guide being damped or cushioned by the surrounding water. In no case can vibration or shocks, due to the operation of the cutter, be directly transmit ted to the floating structure.

If so desired two or more cutters and guides can be arranged on each 'fioating structure.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, on the appended drawings, whereon Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, side elevation, end elevation and plan of a floating structure embodying the invention and Figs. 4-11 are longitudinal and transverse sections of a cutter located in guides of different formation, each view being a section on the line indicated by the corresponding ordinal.

Referring now to the drawings, A. is the floating structure, B the well therein, C the cutter, D the hoisting rope therefor, E the sheer leg structure and F the hoisting winch, all as in a known form of sub-aqueous rock cutter of the Lobnitz type.

According to the present invention, in lieu of the usual guide in the well B, an elongated tubular guide 12 is suspended by) chains or cables 13 in or below the well B. The chains or cables 13 are passed over additional sheaves 15 on the sheer leg structure E and are attached, at one end, to the guide 12 by eye bolts or shackles or in other suitable manner and, at the other end, to the drums of a double winch 16 suitably arranged on the deck of the structure A.

The guide 12 is lined with wood or other suitable non-abrasive material 17 and may be of plain or corrugated tubular formation, in a single length, in sections or lengths united by lateral flanges, as illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5 and 10 and 11, in sections or halves united by longitudinal flanges, as illustrated by Figs. 8 and 9, or in sections united by both lateral and longitudinal flanges, as illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7.

For use in shallow water the guide is drawn up into the well 13, as illustrated by Fig. 2, whilst for work on deeper beds the guide is lowered until the lower end thereof is at a suitable height above the bed, as illustrated by Fig. 1. If desired, for working at increased depths, additional sections such as are illustrated by Figs. 1- and 10 and 11 may be added to the guide 12, as indicated by dotted lines 18, Fig. 1.

Instead of being tubular as illustrated, the uide or guides, 12 may be built up of open frame-work or other suitable structure and suitably lined with wood or other non-abrasive material.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Sub-aqueous rock cutting apparatus comprising a floating structure, a guide suspended therefrom, means for lowering the guide into and raising it out of the water upon which the structure floats, a cutter located in said guide, and means for raising said cutter and then allowing it to fall on the subaqueous rock the suspension means for the guide being such that, when the cutter strikes the rock and oscillates, the guide can oscillate with it freely in all directions.

2. Sub-aqueous rock cutting apparatus comprising a floating structure, a guide means for suspending the guide from the structure, means for lowering theguide into and raising it out of the water upon which the structure floats, a cutter located in said guide, and means for raising said cutter and then allowing it to fall on the subaqueous work, the suspension means for the guide being such that, when the cutter strikes the rock and oscillates, the guide can oscillate with it freely in all directions.

3. Sub-aqueous rock cutting apparatus comprising a floating structure, a vertically adjustable guide suspended therefrom and capable of free lateral movement in all directions, said guide comprising an outer inetallic casing and ancinner lining of nonabrasive material, a cutter adapted to work insaid guide and means for raising said outter and then allowing same to fall.

4:. Sub-aqueous rock cutting apparatus comprising a floating structure, a vertically adj ustable uide comprising a number of detachable sections suspended therefrom and capable of free lateral movement in all directions, a cutter adapted to work in said guide and means for raising said cutter and then allowing same to fall.

5. Sub-aqueous rock cutting apparatus comprising a floating structure, a corrugated tubular guide suspended therefrom-and capable of free lateral movement in all directions, a cutter in said guide and means for raising said cutter and then allowing same to fall.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUBER-T OSvVALD BEDGOOD.

Witnesses MARY GREEN, EDITH MARY Home 

